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AN  ADDRESS 


RESPECTING  THE 


CHARLESTON  &  HAMBURGH  RAILROAD, 


And  on  the  Railroad  System  as  regards  a    large  portion  of 

the  Southern  and  Western  States  of  the 

North  American  Union. 


BY   ELIAS  HORRY, 


President  of   the  South    Carolina  Canal  and  Railroad 
Company. 

Delivered  in  Charleston,  at  the  Medical  College  of  the  State 

of  South  Carolina,  on  Wednesday,  the  2nd  October, 

I833,  on  the  Completion  of  the  Road. 


CHARLESTON. 
Printed  by  A.  E.  Miller, 

No.  4  Broad  Street.  -L 

1833.  *X  £ 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive  • 

in  2012  with  funding  from 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/addressrespectinOOhorr 


DO 
K 

n 


AN  ADDKESS. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

It  becomes  my  duty,  as  President  of  the  "South  Carolina 
Canal  and  Railroad  Company,"  to  address  you  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Railroad  from  Lines'  street,  near  Charleston, 
to  the  Town  of  Hamburgh,  on  the  Savannah  River. 

The  great  success  of  the  Railroad  System  in  England, 
particularly  that  of  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Road,  soon 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  other  Kingdoms  and  States  of 
Europe,  and  simultaneously  that  of  the  best  informed  citizens 
and  the  mercantile  communities  of  our  American  Union. 

Our  citizens  immediately,  and  correctly  saw,  that  every 
benefit  arising  from  the  system  could  be  extended  to  every 
city  and  town  in  the  United  States,  and  particularly  to  those 
near  the  Atlantic.  That,  by  establishing  railroads,  so  located 
as  to  pass  into  the  interior  of  the  several  States,  every  agri- 
cultural, commercial,  or  saleable  production,  could  be  brought 
down  from  remote  parts  of  the  country  to  these  eitities  and 
towns;  and  from  them,  such  returns,  as  the  wants  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  interior  required,  cou]d  be  forwarded  with 
great  dispatch  and  economy,  thereby  forming  a  perfect  sys- 
tem of  mercantile  exchanges,  effected  in  the  shortest  possible 
time,  and  giving  life  to  a  most  advantageous  commerce. 

In  South  Carolina,  particularly  in  Charleston,  a  respecta^e 
portion  of  our  citizens  wisely  determined  that  railroads  would 
be  eminently  beneficial  to  the  State;  that  they  would  revive 
the  diminished  commerce  of  our  city  and  tend  to  bring  back 
the  depreciated  value  of  property  to  its  former  standard. 
In  fact,  it  became  necessary  that  some  efficient  measure, 
some  great  enterprise  should  be  resorted  to.  Real  estate  in 
and  near  Charleston  had  sunk  to  half  its  former  value,  and 
in  some  instances  to  less;  and  this  depreciation  had  extended 
also  to  country  property.      Industry  and  talent    had    lost  en- 


6  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

couragement  and  met  not  their  merited  rewards.  These  evils 
had  commenced  and  accumulated  within  a  few  years  and 
were  still  progressing;  and  during  this  same  period  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  States  and  cities  had  attained  to  great 
and  increasing  affluence  and  prosperity,  while  those  of  the 
South  were  gradually  falling  into  decay.  To  improve  there- 
fore the  welfare  of  Charleston,  and  forward  as  much  as  pos- 
sible her  prosperity  and  that  of  the  State,  our  best  merchants 
and  most  intelligent  men  decided  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of 
the  railroad  system.  The  plan  was  that  a  railroad  be  located 
from  Charleston  to  Hamburgh,  on  the  Savannah  River,  and 
that  a  branch  should  be  extended  from  the  main  line  when 
completed  to  Columbia,  and  afterwards  another  branch  to 
Camden. 

The  project  was  grand,  and  required  knowledge  and  expe- 
rience to  have  devised  it.  A  petition  was  accordingly  pre- 
sented to  the  Legislature,  on  this  important  subject,  for  the 
establishment  of  a  companj'  and  granting  to  it  a  charter. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1827,  the  Legislature  passed  an 
Act  to  authorize  the  formation  of  a  company.  But  this  Act 
was  not  satisfactory  to  those  citizens  who  wished  to  locate  a 
railroad.  It  served,  however,  to  show  the  sense  of  the  Legisl- 
ature as  regarded  so  great  an  object. 

The  Legislature  was  again  in  session  in  January,  1828,  and 
on  another  application  the  present  charter  of  'The  South 
Carolina  Canal  and  Railroad  Company"  was  granted  on  the 
30th  of  that  month. 

This  Act  was  deemed  satisfactory.  Books  for  subscriptions 
to  the  stock  were  to  be  opened  on  the  lTth  of  March  follow- 
ing at  Charleston,  Columbia,  Hamburgh  and  Camden  by  Com- 
missioners therein  appointed.  But  the  system  being  at  that 
time  new,  much  important  information  was  necessarily  to  be 
procured  before  the  opening  of  the  books,  and  this  was  required 
to  ascertain  in  some  measure  the  probable  cost  of  so  great  an 
enterprise,  its  proper  location,  feasibility  of  execution,  and 
also  to  induce  our  citizens  to  subscribe  to  the  stock  and  form 
a  company. 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  7 

To  forward  this  desirable  purpose  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce met  on  the  4th  of  February  and  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee of  Ten  to  "inquire  into  the  effects  likely  to  result  to 
''the  trade  and  general  interests  of  the  City  of  Charleston  by  the 
"establishment  of  a  railroad  communication  between  the  city 
"and  the  town  of  Hamburgh.  And  they  Avere  authorized  to 
"collect  and  report  every  information  on  the  subject  of  rail- 
"roads  which  they  may  deem  necessary  to  form  an  opinion  on 
"the  probable  cost  of  and  the  revenue  likely  to  be  derived 
"from  the  enterprise." 

On  the  3d  of  March  following  Major  Black  from  the  Com- 
mittee made  a  very  lucid  report  on  every  point  of  enquiry 
wherein  the  whole  matter  referred  to  them  is  fully  discussed; 
and  all  the  information  to  be  procured  from  the  best  practi- 
cal engineers  and  writers  on  canals  and  railroads  was  ad- 
duced. They  proved  the  relative  advantages  of  railroads 
over  canals,  in  every  respect,  as  regards  the  cost  of  construc- 
tions, convenience,  expedition,  liability  to  interruption  by. 
casualties,  expense  of  attendance  and  repairs,  and  the  superi- 
ority of  locomotive  engines  over  horse  or  animal  power. 
They  showed  the  great  preference  which  had  been  given  to 
railroads  wherever  they  have  been  constructed,  either  in 
Europe  or  in  the  United  States,  and  fully  proved  the  very 
great  importance  which  a  railroad  from  Charleston  to  Ham- 
burgh would  be  to  our  agricultural  and  commercial  interests, 
and  to  the  trade  and  general  prosperity  of  the  City  of  Charles- 
ton. 

A  number  of  our  citizens  were  also  desirous  of  ascertaining 
the  levels  and  the  situations  of  the  lands,  through  which  the 
location  of  a  railroad  could  be  made  between  Charleston  and 
Hamburgh.  To  obtain  this  information,  two  respectable 
surveyors  were  employed,  and  Col.  Blanding,  of  Columbia, 
gave  to  them  his  friendly  assistance  and  experience. 

They  ascertained  that  from  the  Savannah  River,  near 
Hamburgh,  to  the  summit,  over  which  the  line  of  location 
would  have  to  pass,  was  a  distance  of  about  17  miles,  and  that 
the  height  gradually  commenced  a  few  miles  from  the  sum- 
mit, which  could  be  easily  surmounted  by  a  stationary  engine 


8  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

and  incline  plane ;  and  that  there  were  none  other  than  ordi- 
nary obstacles  from  the  summit  to  Charleston  ;  the  Edisto 
River  being  crossed  by  a  substantial  bridge. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  was  published,  and  that  of 
the  Surveyors  was  on  the  15th.  of  March,  laid  before  the 
citizens  who  caused  the  survey  ;  and  before  the  Commissioners 
on  opening  the  books. 

The  Commissioners  opened  the  subscription  books  on  the 
17th.  of  March,  Three  thousand  five  hundred  and  one 
shares  were  subscribed  for  in  Charleston.  At  Columbia, 
Camden  and  Hamburgh,  none. 

The  true  cause  for  things  is  seldom  known  ;  but  I  will  sup- 
pose that  the  reason  for  this  must  have  been  on  account  of 
the  system  being  new  and  not  sufficiently  understood  ;  and 
therefore  the  inhabitants  of  the  interior  wished  further  infor- 
mation to  induce  them  to  engage  in  so  great  an  enterprise. 
But  the  shares  taken  in  Charleston  were  sufficient  to  form  a 
Company.  And  afterwards  some  shares  were  taken  in  the  in- 
terior of  the  State,  but  not  to  a  very  large  amount. 

The  Stockholders  were  organized  as  a  Company  on  the  12th 
of  May,  1828,  by  the  Commissioners,  at  the  City  Hall  in 
Charleston.  They  elected  the  late  William  Aiken,  Esq. 
President,  and  twelve  other  gentlemen  directors;  who,  to- 
gether formed  the  direction.  A  similar  election  has  been 
since  annually  made  on  the  1st  Monday  in  May.  At  the  same 
meeting,  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  By-Laws, 
which  were  afterwards  accepted.  To  complete  their  organi- 
zation, the  Direction  elected  Mr.  Edwin  P.  Starr,  Secretary. 
This  gentleman  afterwards  resigned,  and  in  December,  1828, 
Mr.  John  T.  Pobertson  was  elected  and  has  continued  in  that 
station  to  this  time. 

The  Direction  entered  promptly  on  the  discharge  of  their 
duties.  Correspondences  were  formed  in  England  and  at  the 
North.  Surveyors  and  civil  engineers  were  employed,  and 
other  officers  were  appointed.  Surveys  for  information  were 
made,  and  a  line  with  a  view  to  location  was  nearly  completed. 
The  railroad  has  been  commenced  agreeably  to  the  stipulations 
of  the  Charter.     The  number  of  stockholders   had  increased, 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  9 

various  contracts  had  been  made,  and  most  of  the  arrange- 
ments required  for  the  success  of  our  enterprise  were  in  full 
progress  ;  when,  by  an  accident  unforeseen,  but  one  of  those 
attendant  on  the  vicissitudes  of  life;  we,  as  it  Tvere  in  an  in- 
stant, were  deprived  of  our  president !  He  died  on  the  5th 
of  March.  1831,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. 

The  Direction  assembled  immediately,  when  the  following 
Resolution  was  passed  :  "Resolved,  That  this  Board  deeply 
"  regrets  the  unexpected  and  accidental  death  of  its  late  presi- 
dent. William  Aiken,  Esq.,  by  which  the  public  has  lost  an 
"  eminently  useful  citizen,  and  the  railroad  company  a  judici- 
"  ous.  intelligent  and  patriotic  president."  This  resolution 
was  afterwards  respectfully  communicated  to  his  family.  His 
monument  in  St.  Philip's  Church,  characterizes  him  as  "A 
Public  Benefactor,  and  a  Valued  Friend."  This  is  literally 
true ;  the  railroad  company  will  ever  entertain  a  high  respect 
for  his  memory. 

The  compass  of  this  address  will  not  permit  me  to  detail 
the  proceedings  of  the  Direction,  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
great  work;  neither  is  it  necessary.  Their  reports  have 
been  regularly  made  to  the  Company;  also  the  reports  with 
a  view  to  location,  by  Dr.  Howard,  a  civil  engineer  of  tal- 
ents, in  the  service  of  the  United  States;  the  reports  of  Ho- 
ratio Allen,  Esq.,  our  chief  engineer,  full  of  science  and  in- 
formation; and  those  of  Major  Black,  our  intelligent  com- 
missioner. All  these  have  been  printed  for  the  use  of  the 
stockholders,  and  have  been  given  to  the  public.  Numerous 
have  been  the  duties  of  the  Direction,  and  sometimes  they 
have  been  arduous.  They  now  have  the  satisfaction  to  an- 
nounce to  the  public  the  completion  of  the  railroad  from  the 
Depository,  at  Lines  street,  to  Hamburgh. 

How  delightful,  fellow  citizens,  is  it  to  the  mind  of  an  in- 
dividual, when  he  can  reflect,  that  he  has  contributed  by  his 
exertions  to  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men,  and  to  that  of  his 
country.  The  fact  must  be  acknowledged,  and  the  stock- 
holders of  the  "South  Carolina  Canal  and  Railroad  Com- 
pany," especially  those  who  engaged  early  in  the  enterprise, 


10  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

must  feel  that  delight  in  a  very  eminent  degree,  when  the}' 
reflect  on  the  public  good  they  have  rendered  to  this  State, 
and  to  a  large  portion  of  '  their  country,  by  constructing  a 
railroad  from  the  vicinity  of  Charleston  to  Hamburgh,  a  dis- 
tance of  136  miles;  and  this  too  through  opposition  as  well 
as  encouragement,  and  through  all  the  difficulties,  labors  and 
expendituies  attendant  on  the  execution  of  so  great  a  work. 

The  completion  of  our  railroad  will  be  considered  an  era 
in  the  history  of  South  Carolina.  The  benefits  and  advan- 
tages which  will  be  derived  therefrom,  and  which  will  accme 
to  our  agricultural  and  commercial  interests,  have  been  al- 
ready partially  tested.  At  present  we  can  only  indulge  the 
hope  that  we  will  experience  them  in  an  equal  degree  with 
those  who  have  engaged  in  similar  enterprises  in  other  States 
and  countries. 

Columbia  Uas  now  turned  her  attention  to  the  branch  sug- 
gested in  the  charter,  to  be  extended  to  and  trom  that  town. 
Our  charter  also  mentions  a  branch  to  Camden;  this  will  be 
an  important  subject  of  consideration  after  Columbia  shall 
have  finished  her  branch.  A  railroad  located  from  Camden, 
through  Kershaw  and  Chesterfield  to  Cheraw  would  afford 
great  accommodation  to  the  inhabitants  of  our  northeastern 
districts,  and  may  bring  into  our  State  a  large  portion  of  the 
f  *  agricultural  productions  of  North  Carolina  to  be  transported 
to  Charleston  from  Camden  or  from  Columbia.  From  Che- 
raw a  railroad  may  hereafter  be  extended  to  Fayetteville  and 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  and  thence  to  the  Roanoke  to  meet 
the  railroad  from  Petersburg!],   Virginia. 

Edgefield  and  Greenville  are  now  making  great  exertions 
to  extend  railroads  to  Aiken,  at  the  summit  of  our  road. 
They  will  no  doubt  succeed.  The  line  of  location  from 
Edgefield  has  been  already  surveyed  by  Mr.  Dexter,  an  ex- 
cellent civil  engineer,  lately  in  our  service.  A  railroad  may 
afterwards  be  extended  to  the  mountains,  aud  other  districts 
may  join  in  similar  works.  Funds,  however,  must  be  pro- 
vided for  all  necessary  expenditures,  otherwise  works  of  such 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elian  Horry,  18S3.  11 

extent,  magnitude  and  cost  cannot  be  commenced  and  com- 
pleted. But  our  fellow  citizens  throughout  the  State  will 
exert  their  enterprise  and  public  spirit  to  accomplish  these 
great  undertakings,  all  tending  to  promote  every  individual 
interest  as  well  as  the  good  of  our  country. 

The  advantages  to  result  from  our  railroad,  and  ail  others 
to  be  constructed  in  our  State,  have  already  been  demon- 
strated. Our  railroad  furnishes  the  most  convenient  safest, 
most  certain  and  expeditious  mode  of  conveyance.  Travel- 
ers, those  from  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  even  from  New 
Orleans,  for  136  miles  of  the  journey,  aiso  our  citizens  from 
the  interior  of  a  large  portion  of  our  State,  who  may 
wish  to  visit  Charleston,  will  prefer  the  railroad,  both  in 
coming  to  our  city  and  returning  to  their  homes.  The  ac- 
commodation will  be  found  so  great  ihat  many  will  avail 
themselves  of  it,  and  travel  oftener  than  they  otherwise 
would  have  done.  Space  will  appear  as  if  diminished.  Mer- 
chants, persons  in  business  and  others,  will  find  that,  in  many 
instances,  they  will  be  able  to  attend  to  their  concerns  per- 
sonally without  the  intervention  of  agents.  Planters  within 
reach  of  the  railroad  will  prefer  it  for  sending  their  crops, 
and  the  productions  of  their  plantations  to  market.  They 
may  accompany  their  freights  down,  transact  their  business, 
make  their  purchases  in  Charleston,  and  return  with  them  to 
their  homes,  all  in  a  short  space  of  time,  and  at  a  very  di- 
minished expense. 

But  there  are  more  advantages  which  will  be  derived  from 
the  system.  Numbers  of  horses  and  animals  now  employed 
in  bringing  produce  from  great  distances  to  a  market  will  be 
employed  in  ploughs  and  in  farming  operations;  and  many 
laborers  will  be  added  to  those  now  employed  in  tilling  the 
earth.  Lands  which  have  been  neglected  will  be  brought 
into  cultivation.  Farms  will  be  established  along  the  lines 
of  location.  Villages  will  grow  up  at  appropriate  distances 
from  each  other;  in  them  schools  will  be  established  for  the 
education   of  children,   and    churches    and    chapels    will    be 


1 2  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

erected  for  public  worship;  all  tending  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  State,  the  improvement  of  the  mind,  and  to  the  extension 
of  civilization. 

The  profits  which  will  be  derived  from  onr  railroad  cannot 
as  yet  be  computed,  but  they  must  increase  rapidly,  and  will 
be  enhanced  as  the  system  progresses  in  improvement. 

In  England  the  skill  and  science  of  constructing  locomotive 
engines  is  said  to  be  yet  in  its  infancy;  and  that  the  applica- 
tion of  steam  power  to  them  is  not  yet  perfected.  This  is 
ascertained  by  the  constant  improvements  which  are  still 
made  in  those  engines.  In  fact,  there  is  no  limit  to  the 
power  of  steam.  A  locomotive  engine  has  been  made  to 
surmount  an  inclined  plane  one  and  a  half  miles  long,  where 
the  rise  was  one  yard  in  thirty,  and  the  load  fifteen  tons; 
and  this  was  accomplished  at  the  rate  of  nine  miles  per  hour. 
Locomotive  engines  have  been  successfully  used  in  the  streets 
of  London,  and.  in  other  cities  of  England,  and  on  the 
improved  roads  of  that  country. 

The  greater  the  improvement  in  these  engines,  the  less  will 
be  the  original  cost  of  railways;  for  levels  may  then  be  varied 
and  adapted  to  the  undulating  surface  of  the  country,  through 
which  the  lines  of  location  will  have  to  pass. 

The  railroad  system  will  now  be  adopted  by  all  our  neigh- 
boring States.  They  will  not  forego  the  great  and  superior 
benefits  which  it  will  extend  to  their  agriculture  and  com- 
merce, especially  when  combined  with  steam  navigation 

The  application  of  steam  power  to  navigation  has  been  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  the  commerce  of  the  world. 
Steamboats  have  been  for  many  years,  and  are  now  constantly 
and  successfully  employed  throughout  Europe  and  America, 
and  we  may  say  everywhere. 

The  two  systems,  together  with  shipping,  which  has  for 
ages  navigated  the  ocean,  and  has  been  long  brought,  to 
perfection,  by  the  most  consummate  skill  in  naval  architec- 
ture, now  give  to  the  commerce  of  the  world  all  the  aid 
which  can  be  devised  by  human  genius. 


An  Address  hy  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  13 

Without,  however,  the  agency  of  steam  navigation,  some 
of  our  largest  and  most  extensive  rivers  could  not  afford  aid 
to  a  reciprocal  commerce.  And  this  is  on  account  of  their 
strong  currents,  from  their  sources  to  the  ocean.  Cargoes 
to  any  extent  may  be  brought  down ;  but  cargoes,  in  any 
proportional  extent,  cannot  be  returned  up  those  rivers.  A 
mutual  commerce,  therefore,  could  not  be  effected ;  and  it  is 
only  by  a  liberal  and  reciprocal  intercourse,  and  by  commer- 
cial exchanges  and  associations,  that  a  people  can  reap  the 
fruits  or  their  labors — of  their  agriculture,  and  of  their 
industry,  and  be  brought  to  a  gradual,  and  afterwards  to  a 
high  state  of  civilization.  Steam  navigation,  in  a  great 
measure,  has  remedied  these  commercial  deficiencies. 

"As  an  example  of  the  difficulties  of  internal  navigation, 
"before  the  introduction  of  steam  for  that  purpose,  1  will 
"state  that  on  the  Mississippi,  a  river  which  flows  at  the  rate 
"of  five  or  six  miles  an  hour,  it  was  the  practice  of  boatmen 
"who  brought  down  the  produce  of  the  interior  to  New 
"Orleans  to  break  np  their  boats,  sell  their  timber,  and 
"afterwards  return  home  slowly  by  land;  and  a  voyage  up 
"the  river  from  New  Orleans  to  Pittsburgh,  on  the  Ohio,  a 
"distance  of  about  2,000  miles,  could  hardly  be  accomplished, 
"with  the  most  laborious  efforts,  within  the  period  of  four 
"months.  This  voyage  is  now  made  by  steamboats,  with 
"ease,  in  15  or  20  days,  and  at  the  rate  of  not  less  than  five 
"miles  an  hour." 

But  to  carry  on  an  extensive,  as  well  as  profitable  com- 
merce, commensurate  with  the  agriculture  of  the  country, 
rivers,  even  with  the  assistance  of  steamboats,  are  not  suffi- 
cient to  promote  or  effect  the  views  of  the  numerous  popula- 
tion of  the  West,  now  States  in  the  American  Confederacy, 
and  advancing  in  literature  and  in  science.  A  free  and 
extensive  commercial  intercourse  by  land,  through  all  the 
other  States,  and  particularly  those  bounded  on  the  Atlantic, 
becomes  absolutely  necessary;  and  this  intercourse  can  only 
be  obtained  by  every  commercial  facility  being  afforded,  and 


14  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

by  good  and  convenient  roads,  established  through  the  whole 
country,  and  to  the  required  extent. 

The  Middle  and  Northern  States  have  been  long  aware  of 
these  great  objects,  and  have  given,  and  will  continue  to  give 
every  aid,  to  promote  their  commerce  with  the  West.  And 
in  return  what  great  benefits  have  they  not  reaj)ed,  and  will 
continue  to  reap  from  their  trade  with  the  interior  of  the 
country,  and  with  the  "West  ?  Or  who  can  compute  the 
wealth,  arising  from  that  trade,  which  has  for  years  past  been 
acquired  by  New  York,  by  Philadelphia,  and  by  Baltimore  ? 

South  Carolina  is  as  extensively  intersected  with  public 
roads,  as  most  of  the  other  States.  The  Santee  Canal,  a 
work  executed  by  a  company,  has,  for  years  back,  rendered 
great  benefits  to  a  portion  of  the  State,  by  bringing  down 
abundant  crops  of  corn  and  cotton  to  the  market  of  Charles- 
ton ;  and  our  State  has  made  large  expenditures  on  internal 
improvements.  Mr  Mills,  in  his  Statistics,  published  in  1826, 
mentions  that  South  Carolina,  since  the  year  1816  to  that 
time,  had  appropriated  $1,712,662  to  those  important 
objects,  and  that  the  probable  annual  expenditures  thereafter 
required,  on  those  public  works,  would  not  exceed  $50,000. 
Those  large  expenditures  were  for  clearing  and  opening 
rivers,  making  canals,  and  in  establishing  and  completing 
the  '"State  Road,"  which  runs  from  Charleston  to  Columbia, 
and  thence  to  the  mountains,  and  through  the  Saluda  Gap  to 
North  Carolina.  Such  extensive  improvements  were  made, 
not  only  for  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  State, 
but  to  facilitate  an  advantageous  commerce  with  the  neigh- 
boring States.  But  these  expenditures  were  all  made  before 
the  railroad  system  was  known;  otherwise  they  would  have 
been  more  advantageously  applied. 

Since  the  establishment  of  railroads,  particularly  of  ours, 
from  Charleston  to  Hamburgh,  our  neighboring  States 
to  the  west  of  us  have  turned  their  attention  earnestly 
towards  internal  improvements.  An  intelligent,  pros- 
perous  and    enterprising    people    are     never    long    in    em- 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  15 

bracing  any  system  which  will  be  highly  beneficial  to 
their  interests.  They  have,  for  several  years,  been  anxious  to 
transfer  as  much  of  their  trade  as  possible  to  a  Southern 
market;  and  from  the  Mississippi  and  New  Orleans  to  one  of 
the  cities  near  the  Atlantic,  most  suitable  to  their  interest  and 
views.  They  had  several  public  meetings  on  this  important 
subject.  A  Convention  was  held  at  Estilville,  in  Virginia, 
near  the  boundary  of  North  Carolina,  in  June,  1831.  At 
this  Convention  delegates  attended  from  Kentucky,  Virginia 
and  Tennessee,  and  our  railroad  company  was  represented  by 
Mr.  Allen,  our  Chief  Engineer,  and  Col.  Henry  N.  Cruger. 
It  appears  from  the  proceedings  that  the  great  object  of  he 
Convention  was  "to  collect  the  best  information,  in  order  to 
"obtain  and  strike  out  (using  its  own  expression),  a  new  and 
"useful  route  for  the  trade  of  that  portion  of  the  Union,  to 
"connect  the  trade  of  the  Ohio  River  with  the  great  valley 
"of  the  Tennessee,  and  with  the  Southern  States;"  and  to 
procure  surveys  of  the  routes  proposed  and  considered  most 
practicable.  It  was  concurred  in,  that  Pikeville,  on  the 
Sandy  River,  a  branch  of  the  Ohio,  was  a  point  from  which 
a  road  was  to  commence,  and  that  a  road  should  be  extended 
through  North  and  South  Carolina,  to  some  Southern  market. 
Our  delegates  presented  to  the  Convention  a  communication 
on  the  importance  of  the  railroad  system,  and  on  the  advan- 
tages which  our  railroad  would  afford;  and  they  demon- 
strated that  Charleston  was,  and  would  be,  in  every  respect, 
the  most  eligible  city  for  promoting  and  effecting  all  their 
commercial  objects,  and  the  views  of  the  State  of  Tennessee. 
It  appears  to  me  that  at  this  time  turnpikes  and  good  wagon 
roads  were  those  contemplated  by  this  Convention,  together 
with  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Tennessee 
and  Sandy  Rivers.  On  application  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  Col.  Long,  an  engineer  of  talents  and  great 
practical  information,  was  detailed,  and  by  him  very  many 
important  surveys  were  made,  and  valuable  information  was 
afforded;   all    requisite    to    carry  into   effect   the   objects  pro- 


16  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

posed.  Some  months  after  the  adjournment  of  this  Conven- 
tion, a  communication  was  made  to  our  direction  from  the 
''Sandy  River  Committee,"  informing  that  the  navigation  of 
that  river  was  then  so  improved  as  to  admit  steamboats  to 
pass  irom  the  Ohio  to  Pikeville,  and  that  they  wished  inform- 
ation as  to  the  best  routes  to  enable  them  to  extend  their 
commerce  to  Camden,  in  this  State. 

The  communication  was  published,  and  soon  after  Col. 
Bland ing,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  direction,  gave  all  the 
information  respecting  the  proper  routes  for  bringing  the 
trade  from  Pikeville,  or  the  Ohio  River,  either  to  Camden 
or  Columbia;  whence  commercial  exchanges  could  be  made 
with  Charleston. 

Col  Blanding's  letter  was  also  published ;  and  from  that 
period  it  was  understood  by  all  parties  that  Charleston  was 
the  city,  near  the  Atlantic,  contemplated  to  afford  a  Southern 
market  for  the  productions  of  a  large  portion  of  the  West. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  this  preference  was  caused 
by  the  judicious  location  of  our  railroad  to  Hamburgh;  ana 
this  has,  in  a  measure,  been  proved,  for  our  locomotives  had 
not  progressed  further  than  Branchville  and  Midway,  when 
application  was  made,  in  writing,  by  a  gentleman  from  New 
York,  "wishing  to  be  informed,  at  the  request  of  the  Ten- 
nessee purchasers  in  New  York,  of  the  rates  of  passage 
':and  freight  on  the  Charleston  Railroad,  the  time  that  will 
"be  occupied  in  reaching  Hamburgh,  and  the  probable  time 
"in  which  the  road  would  be  completed;  it  being  their  wish 
"to  ship  their  goods  from  New  York  to  Charleston,  and  from 
"thence  to  transport  them,  by  way  of  the  railroad,  to 
' '  Tennessee. ' ' 

An  answer  was  given  by  our  Secretary,  stating  the  inform- 
ation required.  The  object  of  the  purchasers  was  unques- 
tionably to  avoid  a  more  circuitous  transportation,  or  to  avoid 
the  dangerous  navigation  of  the  Gulph  of  Mexico,  and  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  to  procure  their  returns  of  merchandize  with 
greater  certainty  and  dispatch,  and  on  better  terms. 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  183S.  17 

As  regards  the  dangers  attending  the  navigation  of  that 
extensive  and  rapid  river,  our  experience  has  been  acquired 
by  the  frequent  losses  of  boats  in  their  passage  down  to  New 
Orleans,  and  of  the  consequent  loss  of  property,  and  some- 
times of  lives.  That  New  Orleans  will  ever  be  a  very 
important  city,  is  undeniable.  She  will  ever  carry  on  an 
immense  commerce  by  means  of  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Gulph  of  Mexico  with  the  West,  with  Europe,  with  the  other 
States,  and  with  all  nations.  The  State  of  Louisiana  alone 
will  afford  her  an  extensive  commerce.  But  that  city  labours 
under  disadvantages,  not  attendant  in  the  same  degree,  on 
the  cities  near  the  Atlantic.  Yoyages  to  and  from  Europe 
are  much  longer.  She  is  situated  105  miles  up  a  fresh  water 
river.  Her  location  is  extremely  low,  and  her  climate  very 
warm.  These  circumstances,  of  themselves,  will  cause 
diseases  to  prevail  constantly,  deadly  to  strangers,  and  even 
to  the  inhabitants.  Ships,  and  all  vessels  from  Europe  or  the 
Atlantic  States,  trading  with  New  Orleans,  must  pass  the 
Florida  Keys  or  the  Gulph  of  Mexico.  This  navigation  has 
always  been  deemed  comparatively  dangerous;  and  the  Gulph 
and  the  West  India  seas  are  often  infested  with  pirates. 

These  disadvantages  a  respectable  portion  of  the  West  wish 
to  avoid.  A  safe  and  direct  commerce  is  anxiously  desired, 
and  this  can  only  be  procured  by  the  railroad  system;  by 
railroads  extended  from  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  through  the 
western  part  of  North  Carolina,  through  the  upper  country 
of  South  Carolina,  thence  to  our  railroad,  and  to  Charleston. 

I  will  now  make  some  observations  relative  to  our  city. 
On  the  prosperity  of  Charleston  rests,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
the  prosperity  of  the  State.  No  agricultural  country  can 
succeed  and  become  opulent  and  distinguished  without  com- 
merce. A  city  will  increase  in  importance  in  proportion  to 
the  agricultural  and  commercial  wealth  of  the  State;  the 
resources  which  the  State  can  give  her,  and  the  enterprize  of 
her  citizens.  All  must  combine  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
whole. 


18  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

If  we  examine,  on  a  chart,  or  on  a  map  of  the  United 
States,  the  sea-coast  from  New  York  to  New  Orleans,  we  can 
find  no  city  better  situated  for  an  extensive  commerce  than 
Charleston;  or  so  well  suited,  in  every  respect,  as  a  Southern 
market  for  the  trade  of  the  West;  and  particularly,  since  the 
establishment  of  our  railroad  to  Hamburgh.  And  until  the 
other  contemplated  railroads  can  be  located  and  completed,  a 
very  considerable  Western  and  Northwestern  trade  can,  by 
wagons,  be  carried  on  by  means  of  the  public  roads,  to  and 
from  our  railroad,  at  Hamburgh,  at  Aiken,  at  the  summit, 
at  JBlackville,  at  Midway,  and  at  Branchville,  or  Edisto. 
The  public  roads  of  our  State  extend  in  various  directions, 
and  to  the  mountains  and  our  northern  boundary,  and  in  the 
manner  best  suited  to  the  wagon  trade;  and  from  thence,  the 
distance  of  about  100  miles,  or,  at  the  extent,  120,  will  take 
us  to  Knoxville,  on  the  Tennessee  River.  Accommodations 
of  every  kind,  and  every  required  aid,  can  be  furnished  to 
strangers  in  Charleston. 

As  a  city,  none  other  in  the  United  States,  or  elsewhere, 
surpasses  Charleston  for  health.  Her  inhabitants,  either 
natives  or  those  who  have  settled  there,  and  have  become 
habituated  to  her  air  or  climate,  enjoy  uniform  health,  and 
many  have  lived  to  great  ages.  Strangers,  and  those  of 
them  who  are  men  in  business,  visit  and  remain  in  Charleston, 
without  risk,  three-fourths  of  the  year,  and  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency, Sullivan's  Island  is  an  immediate  resource;  and 
opportunities  alwnys  offer  for  them  to  remove  to  wherever 
they  may  wish  to  retire  until  the  month  of  November,  when 
all  may  return  with  safety. 

As  a  commercial  seaport,  Charleston  has  very  superior 
advantages.  Vessels  drawing  from  16  to  18  feet  of  water 
pass  the  bar  at  common  tides.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but 
that  our  port  is  admirably  adapted  for  a  Naval  Station  for  all 
sloops  of  war,  and  vessels  below  that  grade,  and  particularly 
for  those  vessels  of  our  Navy  ordered  into  service  to  protect 
our    commerce    in   the  Gulph   of    Mexico,  and  in  the  West 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  19 

India  seas.  This  is  the  opinion,  as  I  have  heard,  of  some  of 
our  best  informed  naval  men.  Besides,  our  State  produces 
the  best  ship  timber.  Live  oak  abounds,  and  we  have  in  our 
city  excellent  ship  carpenters,  and  workmen  skilful  in  their 
several  departments  of  the  mechanic  arts.  And  should,  in 
the  establishment  of  a  Navy  Yard,  and  for  erecting  appro- 
priate buildings,  granite,  as  well  as  brick  and  timber,  be 
required,  it  could  be  brought  down  from  Columbia  to  the 
full  extent  of  the  quantity  demanded. 

The  harbour  of  Charleston  is  spacious,  is  at  all  times  safe 
and  secure,  and  is  contiguous  to  the  ocean;  its  water  is  deep, 
and  is  never  frozen.  The  wharves  of  our  city  are  excellent, 
and  improvements  are  constantly  made  on  them.  There  the 
largest  vessels  lar.d  and  take  in  their  cargoes;  the  stores  and 
warehouses  thereon,  and  in  the  city,  are  of  the  best  kind, 
large  and  secure,  and  are  sufficient  for  a  very  extensive  com- 
merce; and  if,  in  our  future  prosperity,  more  warehouses 
and  stores  shall  be  required,  they  will  be  promptly  built. 
Everything  will  be  done  to  promote  commerce. 

There  is  no  port  on  the  Gulph  of  Mexico  more  convenient 
for  commerce  than  that  of  Charleston ;  there  are  no  obstacles 
to  contend  with,  and,  on  a  comparison  of  voyages,  I  have 
been  informed  by  mercantile  men  that  three  can  be  performed 
to  and  from  Europe  in  the  same  time  which  it  takes  to  make 
two  voyages  to  and  from  Europe  and  New  Orleans.  In  fact, 
there  is  no  city  on  our  coasts  better  suited  for  the  trade  of 
Europe  or  the  West  Indies,  or  with  our  sister  States,  or  with 
any  country. 

Our  State  abounds  in  wealth,  and  our  staples  are  sought 
after  by  a  large  portion  of  the  world.  What  we  require  are 
liberal,  free  and  extensive  commercial  exchanges;  a  trade 
commensurate  with  our  great  advantages,  and  such  as  will 
give  full  encouragement  to  our  agriculture.  Our  best  inter- 
ests prompt  us  to  procure,  by  means  of  the  railroad  system, 
an  ample  portion  of  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  West, 
and  to   this  end   we   are   bound  to  ourselves  to  use  our  best 


20  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

exertions.  The  West  looks  towards  us  with  anxiety,  and  we 
must  use  our  energies,  and  not  disappoint  ourselves,  and 
that  highly  respectable  and  valuable  portion  of  our  Union. 

1  must  now  request  your  attention  to  the  important  pro- 
ceedings which  took  place  last  year  in  North  Carolina.  A 
Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad  Convention  was  held  at  Ashe- 
ville,  in  Buncombe  County,  on  the  3d  and  4th  days  of  Sep- 
tember, 1832,  pursuant  to  resolutions  passed  by  the  citizens 
of  that  County,  on  the  4th  of  July  preceding,  to  invite  their 
fellow-citizens  of  Tennessee,  and  of  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, who  felt  an  interest  in  connecting  the  navigable  waters 
of  the  West  with  the  Atlantic,  by  a  railroad  up  the  French 
Broad  River,  to  assemble  in  Convention. 

Twenty-eight  delegates  attended.  Eight  from  four  Coun- 
ties of  Tennessee,  and  twenty  from  three  Counties  of  North 
Carolina. 

A  motion  was  made  by  General  Alexander  Anderson,  of 
Tennessee,  that  the  Convention  be  organized  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Mitchel  King,  Esq-,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
then  a  delegate  from  Buncombe,  Chairman;  and  Colonel 
Samuel  Chunn,  of  Ashville,  Secretary. 

The  object  of  the  meeting  was  explained  in  a  brief,  but 
lucid  address  from  the  chair. 

General  Anderson  then  addressed  the  Convention  in  an 
able  and  impressive  manner,  and  pointed  out  the  many  and 
great  advantages  that  would  be  produced  by  the  contemplated 
railroad,  not  less  in  a  political  than  commercial  point  of  view, 
so  indissolubly  connecting  the  Southern  and  Western  interests, 
strengthening  the  bonds  of  Union,  and  thereby  perpetuating 
all  the  blessings  of  our  valuable  institutions. 

The  General  then  offered  four  resolutions,  which  were 
adopted.  The  third  was  that  a  committee  be  appointed  by 
the  Chairman,  for  each  of  the  States  of  Tennessee,  North 
Carolina  and  South  Carolina,  who  shall  be  charged  wit*i  all 
matters  of  interest  appertaining  to  the  railroad,  by  which  it 
is  proposed  to  connect  the  Western  waters  with  the  Atlantic; 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Ettas  Horry,  1833.  21 

and  that  the  committee  of  Tennessee  be  called  the  "Tennes- 
see, Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad  Committee,"  and  those 
of  North  and  South  Carolina  be  distinguished  in  a  like  man- 
ner. By  the  fourth  it  was  resolved,  that  the  respective 
committees  designated  be  requested  to  correspond  with  each 
other,  and  to  act  in  unison  in  regard  to  the  interest  with 
which  they  are  charged.  These  committees  were  afterwards 
appointed  by  the  Chairman.  (That  for  South  Carolina  is 
formed  by  Elias  Horry,  the  Hon.  William  Drayton,  the 
Hon.  C.  J.  Colcock,  the  Hon.  J.  R.  Poinsett,  Dr.  Joseph 
Johnson,  and  Mitchel  King,  Esq.,  the  Chairman,  was  added 
by  the  Convention.)  Judge  Furman,  of  North  Carolina, 
fully  approved  and  advocated  the  principle  of  railroad  com- 
munications, and  adverted  to  the  improvements  already 
executed  in  the  North,  and  the  many  advantages  which  must 
result  from  the  works  proposed.  Two  committees  were 
formed  from  the  delegates  of  the  two  States. 

Judge  Furman  reported  from  those  of  North  Carolina,  that 
it  was  practicable  and  expedient  to  construct  a  railroad 
through  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  between  the  boundary 
line  of  Tennessee,  at  the  Painted  Rock,  and  South  Carolina. 
That  application  should  be  made  to  their  Legislature  for  a 
railroad  charter,  and  an  Engineer  be  procured  to  make  sur- 
veys of  the  several  routes,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  best, 
most  direct  and  practicable  line  of  location. 

Dr.  J.  G.  M.  Ramsay  reported  from  the  delegates  01 
Tennessee.  The  following  are  the  material  part  of  the 
report  : 

"That  the  improvements  now  in  the  progress  of  execution 
"on  the  Tennessee  River  claimed  their  first  attention.  That 
"this  stream  is  the  principal  branch  of  the  Ohio,  and  receives 
"tributaries  from  the  several  States  of  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina, Georgia  and  Alabama.  That  from  its  junction  with 
"the  Ohio  to  Florence,  in  Alabama,  the  navigation  is  unob- 
structed; steamboats  of  the  largest  tonnage  ascend  to  that 
"place;  above    this    point    commences    the    Muscle    Shoals, 


/ 


22  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

which  have  heretofore  entirely  obstructed  the  ascending 
navigation.  That  a  munificent  appropriation  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government  of  400,000  acres  of  land  had  been  made 
for  their  improvement.  That  around  the  Muscle  Shoals  a 
canal  for  steamboats  was  then  progressing,  having  been 
under  contract  since  the  20th  of  November,  1831,  and  is 
to  be  completed  on  the  1st  of  June,  1S35.  That  in  the 
opinion  of  the  experienced  Engineer  employed,  the  fund 
was  though^  to  be  ample,  and  the  work  is  in  the- hands  of 
experienced  and  energetic  contractors,  guided  by  one  of  the 
ablest  Engineers  of  the  New  York  and  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canals.  On  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Muscle  Shoals' 
Canal  a  railroad  was  then  constructing,  to  be  about  40 
miles  long,  around  the  entire  length  of  these  obstructions. 
That  in  the  spring  of  1831  a  company  surveyed  and  put 
under  contract  two  miles  of  this  road,  from  Tuscumbia  to 
the  river,  which  were  completed  in  May,  1832.  During 
the  winter  of  1832,  the  company  surveyed  and  put  under 
contract  fifteen  miles  more  of  road,  the  route  being 
extremely  favourable.  That  the  funds  both  for  this  and 
the  canal  are  abundant,  and  the  work  on  both  sides  was 
then  prosecuted  with  rival  spirit.  From  this  place  the 
navigation  of  the  river  is  excellent  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year,  nearly  200  miles  to  a  point  within  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  State  of  Tennessee.  That  here  are  obstruc- 
tions which  render  the  navigation  difficult  and  dangerous, 
and  although  the  steamboat  Knoxville  had  hitherto  passed 
them  safely,  they  are  considered  obstacles  to  commerce. 
For  their  removal,  and  improvement  of  the  river  to  Knox- 
ville, the  Legislature  of  Tennessee  had  appropriated  $60,000. 
And  that,  in  the  opinion  of  Colonel  Long,  the  low  water 
navigation  of  the  river  can,  and  will  be  made  'quite  equal, 
if  not  superior  to  that  of  the  Ohio.'  He  estimates  also, 
that  the  expense  of  the  improvement  will  fall  below  the 
sum  appropriated  to  make  the  river  navigable  for  steamboats 
to  Knoxville  at  low  water." 


/ 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  23 

The  foregoing  is  as  much  of  the  report  as  I  have  thought 
proper  to  lay  before  you. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  then  presented 
by  General  Anderson,  and  adopted  unanimously  by  the  Con- 
vention : 

"Whereas,  from  satisfactory  information  which  has  been 
obtained  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Convention  that  it  is  per- 
fectly practicable  to  construct  a  railroad  from  the  navigable 
waters  of  East  Tennessee  so  as  to  pass  by  the  Painted  Rock 
in  North  Carolina,  and  thence  to  Charleston.  And  whereas, 
this  Convention  look  with  deep  and  ardent  anxiety  to  the 
accomplishment  of  the  great  object  proposed,  as  embracing 
vast  commercial  and  political  interests,  involving  the  pros- 
perity of  the  South  and  West,  and  forming  between  them 
the  strongest  bond  of  perpetual  union.  Therefore,  be 
1st,  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  recommend  to  the 
people  of  the  respective  States  of  Tennessee,  North  Carolina 
and  South  Carolina,  the  adoption  of  such  measures  as  will 
secure  the  early  accomplishment  of  this  great  means  of 
commercial  connection. 

"2nd,  That  the  "several  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad 
Committees,  appointed  by  this  Convention,  be  requested  to 
unite  their  best  efforts  to  obtain  such  legislative  action  from 
their  respective  States  as  will  promote  the  object  proposed; 
and  also  that  they  pursue  such  other  and  further  measures, 
in  all  respects,  as  may  contribute  to  the  success  of  their  great 
undertaking. 

u3d,  That  the  Chairman  of  this  meeting  be  directed  to 
correspond  with  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  to 
request  that  he  will  detail,  if  consistent  with  the  views  of  the 
Government,  a  competent  Engineer  to  make  a  survey  of  the 
railroad  route  proposed  from  'Columbia,  South  Carolina,  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Nolichucky,  in  Tennessee,  and  thence  a 
survey  of  the  French  Broad  and  Holston  Rivers  to  Knox- 
ville,  Tennessee;  and  that  the  Chairman  be  requested  to 
communicate  the  result  of  such  correspondence  to  each  of  the 


24  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

Committees     of     Tennessee,     Noith     Carolina     and    South 
Carolina.' 

"4th,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  respective  Committees 
to  hold  meetings,  by  equal  number  of  delegates  from  their 
respective  bodies,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  may  require, 
for  the  purpose  of  concerting  measures  to  promote  the  great 
objects  proposed." 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Convection  Mr.  King,  the 
Chairman,  applied  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
requesting  that  an  Engineer  be  appointed  to  make  the  impor- 
tant surveys  and  locations  contemplated.  Colonel  Long  was 
detailed  for  that  duty.  The  Committee  for  South  Carolina 
presented  to  our  Legislature  a  petition  relative  to  the  surveys, 
with  a  view  to  suitable  locations,  to  be  made  through  this 
State.  This  was  done  at  the  last  session,  and  an  appropria- 
tion of  $1,000  was  made  to  defray  the  expenses  of  a  survey 
within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina,  with  a  view  to  the  loca- 
tion of  a  railroad  for  connecting  "the  Atlantic  and  Western 
waters,"  by  a  company  hereafter  to  be  established  and  char- 
tered, and  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Committee;  but  with  a 
proviso,  that  the  States  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee 
make  a  similar  or  suitable  appropriation  on  their  parts,  and 
that  satisfactory  evidences  of  their  appropriations  be  furnished, 
so  that  they  may  be  laid  before  our  Comptroller-General, 
and  be  satisfactory  to  him. 

In  January  last  I  received  a  communication  from  Colonel 
Long,  informing  me  that  he  had  been  detailed  for  the  afore- 
mentioned duty,  to  survey  a  route  for  a  "railroad  as  contem- 
plated by  the  Convention,  leading  from  Columbia,  South 
Carolina,  to  some  point  on  French  Broad  River,  and  thence 
to  Knoxville,  Tennessee."  He  stated  also  that  the  expense 
attending  the  survey  would  not  in  all  exceed  $3,000.  In 
answer  I  informed  him  what  our  Legislature  had  done,  and 
that  the  additional  funds  which  may  be  required,  must  be 
appropriated  by  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee.  I  have 
since   understood    that    the    surveys    would   lirst     be     made 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  25 

through  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  to  our  State  line,  and 
thence  through  South  Carolina  to  the  destined  point  of 
location. 

This  arrangement  will  remove  all  difficulties,  and  the  sur- 
vey will  be  commenced  during  this  fall.  Mr.  King,  the 
Chairman  of  the  Convention,  has  corresponded  fully  with  all 
parties  on  this  important  subject. 

The  Western  Railroad  will  enter  this  State  most  probably 
through  Spartanburgh  District.  The  Ashville  Convention 
has  fixed  its  point  of  destination  to  be  Columbia,  and  thence 
it  will  be  extended  to  our  Charleston  and  Hamburgh  Rail- 
road. This  very  important  union  of  the  commerce  of  the 
West  with  that  of  Charleston  will  connect  our  commercial, 
and  most  of  our  political  interests.  Jt  will  open  the  way  for 
the  enterprize  of  all  citizens  engaged  in  various  pursuits,  in 
trades  of  every  kind,  and  in  every  profession;  and  it  will 
also  bring  amongst  us,  from  abroad,  men  of  talent  and  of 
learning,  who  may  wish  to  profit  by  our  free  institutions. 

The  Tuscumbia  Railroad,  mentioned  in  the  Report  of  the 
Tennessee  Committee,  is  located  in  a  rich  surrounding  coun- 
try. It  is  now  progressing  with  rapidity  and  success. 
Twenty-five  miles  of  it  will  be  completed  in  January  next, 
and  the  remaining  twenty  miles  will  be  finished  by  June, 
1835,  and  probably  before  that  time. 

In  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  Ramsay  to  Dr.  Johnson  and 
myself,  from  Knoxville,  he  says  : 

"I  tell  you  as  inhabitants  of  Charleston,  and  stockholders 
'in  the  South  Carolina  Railroad  Company,  that  from  the 
'best  statistical  information,  the  calculation  is  reasonably 
'made  that  20  per  cent,  of  the  whole  trade  of  the  great  Valley 
'of  the  Mississippi,  imports  as  well  as  exports,  will  be 
'received  and  sent  out  through  the  port  of  Charleston  and 
'your  railroad." 

In  Georgia  two  railroads  are  about  to  be  established;  one 
of  them  from  Athens,  and  the  other  from  Eatonton.  Both 
are    to    be    located    to  Augusta,  and    the    Eatonton   Road  is 


/ 


26  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

afterwards  to  be  extended  to  some  point  on  the  Chattahoochee 
River.  The  citizens  of  Putnam  County  have  called  their 
attention  earnestly  to  this  most  interesting  subject.  On  the 
26th  of  July  last,  they  alone  had  secured  the  Eatonton  Com- 
pany's Charter  by  subscribing  to  stock  to  the  amount  of 
$350,000.  Charles  P.  Gordon,  Esq.,  the  President  of  the 
Company,  writes  to  me  in  these  words  : 

' '  I  believe  Charleston  and  the  stockholders  in  your  Com- 
"pany  have  a  deep  interest  at  stake  in  our  enterprize.  If 
"successful,  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  enhance  the  value  of 
"your  stock  ten  per  cent,  per  annum,  besides  throwing  into 
"the  Charleston  market  a  large  portion  of  the  staple  of  this 
"State,  that  would  otherwise  not  go  there." 

These  two  railroads  will  be  near  each  other,  and  as  they 
approach  Augusta,  may  nearly  join.  It  is  not  my  province 
to  suggest  a  location  to  the  intelligent  inhabitants  of  Georgia, 
but  if  I  could  so  far  presume,  I  think  it  would  be  best  for 
the  two  Companies  to  join  their  funds  and  locate  a  railroad 
from  an  intermediate  point,  from,  Madison  to  Augusta. 
And  as  the  Eatonton  Company  intends  to  extend  its  road  to 
the  Chattahoochee,  I  would  suggest  that  half  of  the  joint 
funds  be  applied  to  a  railroad  from  Madison  to  Columbus. 
Another  road  could  afterwards  be  projected  from  Columbus 
to  Montgomery,  in  the  State  of  Alabama.  This  plan  would 
cause  a  very  extensive  intercourse,  by  railroad  communica- 
tion, between  Alabama,  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  I 
may  add  New  Orleans.  In  fact,  a  journey  from  Charleston 
to  Mobile  and  New  Orleans  would  then,  in  a  manner,  become 
a  journey  of  pleasure,  as  well  as  of  business.  Tuscaloosa  is 
to  the  west  of  Madison ;  a  railroad  could  at  some  future 
time  be  located  between  those  two  points.  The  distance 
from  Tuscaloosa  to  Florence  and  Tuscumbia  is  about  100 
miles.  By  means  of  another  railroad  between  those  two 
towns  the  trade  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee, 
could  be  then  extended  through  Alabama  and  Georgia  to 
South   Carolina.     The   citizens  of   Georgia,  however,  know 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  27 

best  their  own  interests,  and   the   above  must   be  considered 
only  as  my  speculations,  on  a  very  important  subject. 

Fellow-citizens,  i  must  now  apologize  to  you  for  having 
taken  up  so  much  of  your  time,  and  some  of  my  topics  and 
remarks  may  appear  to  you  desultory;  but  I  have  thought 
proper  to  make  them,  the  better  to  explain  my  views,  as 
regards  the  importance  of  the  railroad  system  to  South  Caro- 
lina, and  to  our  Southern  and  Western  country.  I  must, 
however,  request  your  indulgence  for  a  few  minutes  longer. 

Many  of  our  citizens,  friendly  to  the  views  of  our  Com- 
pany, and  wishing  as  far  as  was  in  their  power  to  improve 
the  commerce  and  prosperity  of  our  State,  not  only  permitted 
our  railroad  to  pass  through  their  lands,  which  they  presented 
free  of  cost,  but  they  also  gave  us  liberty  to  use  their  timber. 
This  was  done  for  a  considerable  distance  along  the  line  of 
location,  and  was  in  addition  to  the  purchases  of  lauds,  which x 
the  Company  had  to  make.  These  acts  were  generous  as  to 
the  Company,  and  patriotic  as  regards  the  State.  To  all 
these  citizens,  in  the  name  of  the  Company,  I  do  now  tender 
its  sincerest  thanks  and  acknowledgments. 

I  must  speak  more  particularly  of  Mr.  Henry  ShuJtz. 
This  gentleman  is  the  founder  of  Hamburgh;  having  con- 
verted lands,  situated  on  and  near  Savannah  River,  opposite 
to  Augusta,  and  which  were  considered  formerly  not  of  great 
value,  into  an  incorporated  town,  which  hereafter  may  be  of 
commercial 'importance  to  South  Carolina.  He,  some  time 
ago,  presented  and  conveyed  to  our  Company  several  lots, 
forming  squares  in  Hamburgh,  and  on  which  our  depository 
and  buildings  are  erected.  Acknowledgments  for  the  gen- 
erous gift  have  been  made  by  the  Direction  to  Mr.  Shultz 
but  I  consider  it  due  to  him  thus  publicly  to  renew  those 
acknowledgments;  therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  Company, 
I  present  to  him  its  most  cordial  thanks,  for  his  generous  and 
liberal  donation. 

The  direction  of  the  Company,  at  the  commencement  of 
our  great  work,  was    successful   in    procuring  Engineers  and 


28  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

Officers  of  respectability  and  talent,  and  the  contractors  were 
men  of  industry  and  perseverance.  On  like  circumstances 
depends  the  success  of  all  great  enterprizes.  At  length, 
aided  by  such  advantages,  all  obstacles  and  difficulties  have 
been  surmounted,  and  we  have  completed  our  railroad  from 
"Lines-  Street,"  near  our  city,  to  Hamburgh;  and  in  a  short 
time,  we  will  bring  it  to  the  boundary  of  Charleston. 

Bat,  it  seems,  that  difficulties,  fears  and  prejudices  are  yet 
to  be  encountered,  before  it  shall  be  brought  into  the  city. 
The  removal  of  these  must  depend  hereafter  on  the  wisdom 
of  our  civil  authorities,  and  on  the  good  common  sense  of 
our  citizens.  All  that  the  Company  and  the  Direction  expect 
and  desire  is,  that  the  railroad  will  become  as  eminently 
important  to  South  Carolina,  as  the  system  has  been  to  other 
countries  and  States,  and  that  it  will  cause  our  city  of 
Charleston  to  arrive  at  the  distinction  which  she  merits,  and 
at  the  height  of  commercial  prosperity  and  importance. 


APPENDIX. 

Letter  from  James  A.  Meriwether,  Esq.,  to  the  President  of  the 
South  Carolina  Canal  and  Railroad  Company. 

"Eatonton,  (Geo.)  June  8th,  1831. 

The  apology  which  I  have  to  offer  for  the  present  intrusion 
on  your  attention,  and  that  too  by  one  who  is  unknown  to 
you,  either  by  character  or  person,  is  found  in  the  importance 
of  the  subject  I  wish  to  present  to  your  consideration. 

The  commencement  and  probable  completion  of  the  rail- 
road from  Charleston  to  Hamburgh,  in  South  Carolina,  has 
awakened  a  spirit  of  enterprize  in  the  people  of  this  State. 
Savannah  is  strugging  to  revive  its  former  trade,  and  to  ward 
off  the  injury  which  the  success  of  this  railroad  will  do  to  its 
present  small  remnant  of  trade.  To  do  this,  she  believes  the 
construction  of  a   railroad   from   her   city  to  Columbus,  via 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  29 

Macon,  will  prove  effectual.  The  interior  of  the  State, 
unwilling  to  make  sacrifices  any  longer  to  sustain  the  pros- 
perity of  any  section,  a  point  in  the  State  is,  enquiring  when 
a  railroad  can  be  constructed  affording  the  greatest  facilities 
and  advantages  to  the  people. 

The  question  is  now  seriously  agitated,  whether  a  railroad 
commencing  at  Augusta,  with  the  termination  of  the  Caro- 
lina Railroad,  and  running  thence  to  Le  Grange,  in  Troup 
County,  via  Warrenton,  Eatonton  and  Monticello,  will  not 
afford  greater  advantages  to  a  larger  number  of  people,  than 
any  other  road  of  the  same  length,  in  any  other  direction  of 
the  State,  and  yield  likewise  a  greater  per  cent,  on  the  capital? 
This  road  must  pass  through  the  very  heart  of  all  the  rich 
populous  cotton  growing  Counties  of  the  State,  and  cannot 
exceed  in  length  200  miles. 

After  the  road  reaches  the  County  of  Hancock,  enough 
stone  can  be  had  at  convenient  distances  to  it  to  construct  it 
of  that  material,  from  that  point  to  its  termination,  provided 
it  should  be  deemed  preferable  to  wood.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  as  to  the  transportation  on  this  road,  of  all  the  cotton 
and  other  produce  which  is  raised  within  40  miles  of  it,  until 
the  road  reaches  the  neighborhood  of  Macon,  between  the 
Ocmulgee  and  Flint  Rivers.  No  doubt  can  then  be  enter- 
tained as  to  the  destination  of  that  raised  in  that  section  of 
country;  for  the  character  of  the  Ocmulgee  for  navigation 
has  thus  far  induced  the  merchants  of  Macon  oftentimes  to 
land  their  goods  at  Augusta,  and  haul  them  with  wagons  to 
the  former  place.  After  the  road  shall  have  reached  the 
point  of  termination,  its  opposition  must  arise  from  the  south 
side  oi  the  Pine  Mountain,  at  Columbus.  The  richest  portion 
of  the  country  between  the  Flint  and  Chattahoochee  Rivers, 
lies  above  this  mountain.  The,  farmers  find  a  sale  for  their 
produce  at  Columbus,  and  some  of  the  merchants  purchase 
their  goods  at  New  Orleans;  but  many,  and  much  the  largest 
part,  purchase  their  goods  at  Charleston  and  New  York,  ship 
them  to  Augusta,  and  at  an  enormous  expense,  transport  them 


30  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

in  wagons  to  that  country.  The  fertility  of  the  soil  in  this 
region  promises  to  render  it  no  less  conspicuous  in  point  of 
wealth  in  a  few  years,  than  the  most  prominent  part  of 
Georgia  is  at  this  time. 

The  want  of  a  good  outlet  through  the  Pine  Mountain — 
the  difficulty  of  navigation  down  the  Chattahoochee  River  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year — the  great  superiority  of  railroad 
transportation  over  that  of  water  carriage — the  difficulties  and 
dangers  of  navigation  around  the  Florida  Capes — the  swarms 
of  pirates  along  that  coast — the  delay  and  uncertainty  of 
transportation  and  the  high  rate  of  insurance,  will  induce  and 
determine  this  portion  of  the  State  to  seek  this  road  as  an 
outlet  for  its  produce,  and  the  retmm  of  its  merchandize. 

An  extension  of  one  branch  of  this  road  from  similar  causes, 
to  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation  on  some  of  the  principal 
rivers  of  Alabama,  and  another  to  the  Tennessee  River, 
below  the  Muscle  Shoals,  would  command  the  transportation 
of  all  the  merchandize  and  produce  of  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
Tennessee,  and  a  part  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  In  the  con- 
struction of  such  a  road,  is  it  probable  that  the  city  of 
Charleston  would  lend  its  countenance  ?  Could  stock  be 
subscribed  for  in  Carolina  ?  Would  the  railroad  company 
prefer  such  a  route  to  the  extension  of  their  own,  through 
the  Saluda  Gap  into  Tennessee,  or  terminating  at  that  point  ? 
If  Savannah  should  construct  a  road  from  her  city  to  Augusta, 
would  not  Charleston  be  able,  from  its  present  capital,  and 
its  probable  increase,  to  afford  more  than  equal  advantages  to 
the  farmer  and  merchant  disposed  to  visit  it,  or  Savannah  ? 
And  would  the  construction  of  such  a  road  induce  your  Com- 
pany to  prefer  the  continuation  of  their  own  to  Saluda  Gap, 
in  preference  to  the  one  from  Augusta  to  LeGrange,  when,  if 
not  constructed,  they  would  prefer  the  Georgia  road  ?  What 
is  the  proposed  freight  down  on  your  road  ?  What  up  ? 
What  is  the  probable  durability  of  the  road  ?  Have  any 
circumstances  depressed  the  price  of  your  stock  ?  Has  the 
work  thus  fai,  from  use,  proven  insufficient?     It  is  in  con- 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  31 

templation  to  call  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  the  Counties 
most  interested  in  this  road  shortly,  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing some  arrangements  to  obtain  a  charter,  for  a  road  on  the 
route  proposed,  and  in  making  our  plans  for  a  road,  the 
acquisition  of  the  Western  trade  is  an  object  to  be  kept 
constantly  in  view. 

If  Savannah  should  succeed  in  a  charter  for  the  route  she 
proposes,  she  must  draw  all  the  produce  transported  on  it 
from  the  neighborhood  of  Macon  and  Columbus.  The  pov- 
erty of  the  country  through  which  it  must  pass,  will  forbid 
the  idea  of  receiving  but  little  freight,  other  than  at  those 
places.  If  it  should  be  constructed,  most  of  the  produce  will 
be  hauled  to  Augusta,  on  the  common  road,  which  would  be 
transported  on  the  proposed  road  from  that  place  to  La 
Grange.  I  should  be  happy  to  hear  from  you  on  the  points  to 
which  I  have  particularly  directed  your  attention,  at  as  early 
a  moment  as  your  convenience  will  permit. 

Respectfully  your  ob't  ser'vt. 

JAMES  A.   MERIWETHER. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  to  James  A.  Meriwether,  Esq.,  of 
Eatonton,  dated. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  June  21st,  1831. 

Sir. — Your  letter  of  the  8th  instant  has  been  duly  re- 
ceived. The  subject  is  one  of  great  importance,  and 
deeply  concerns  the  future  prosperity  of  our  Southern  coun- 
try. I  received  a  few  weeks  ago,  a  letter  from  Mr.  G. 
Holsey,  of  Sparta,  Georgia,  requesting  information  on  sev- 
eral points  respecting  railroads,  and  particularly  as  to  ours 
from  Charleston  to  Hamburgh  and  Augusta;  but  he  men- 
tioned no  particular  route  for  a  railroad.  I  wrote  to  him 
that  I  judged  from  his  letter  that  one  was  in  contemplation 
from  Sparta  to  Augusta,  a  distance  of  about   80   miles;  that 


32  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

the  work  would  be  very  important,  but  that  it  must  be  here- 
after continued,  in  order  to  afford  every  facility  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  interior  of  the  country.  I  proposed  a  continu- 
ance of  a  railroad  to  Monticello;  afterwards  thence  to  the 
Alabama  line,  thence  to  the  falls  of  the  River  Black  Warrior, 
near  Tuscaloosa,  and  lastly  from  thence  to  Florence,  on  the 
Tennessee  Elver,  and  near  the  Muscle  Shoals. 

I  observe  that  your  route  from  Augusta  to  La  Grange,  in 
Troup  County,  by  the  way  of  Warrenton,  Eatonton  and 
Monticello,  forms  an  important  part  of  what  I  proposed  to 
Mr.  Holsey;  and  the  time  will  come,  when  a  plan  similar  to 
it  will,  and  must  be  accomplished,  and  until  it  shall  be  car- 
ried into  execution,  it  may  be  really  said  that  the  great  wealth 
and  resources  of  the  South  have  not  been  developed,  and  are 
hidden  from  us.  This  work  will  require  time,  but  a  com- 
mencement must  be  made,  and  what  is  proposed  will  be  a 
material  part  of  that  commencement. 

We  can  certainly  have  no  objection  to  Savannah's  reaping 
a  part  of  all  advantages  which  will  arise  from  commercial 
enterprize,  and  to  which  her  situation  will  entitle  her.  There 
must  be,  in  time,  a  sufficient  and  ample  commerce  for  her  to 
have  a  due  portion  'of  trade.  Let,  therefore,  the  contem- 
plated railroad  from  Columbus  to  Macon  be  made,  and  from 
thence  to  Savannah,  if  the  commerce  of  that  city  shall  be 
revived  by  it.  This  will,  no  doubt,  tend  to  increase  the 
prosperity  of  the  South.  I  rather  suppose,  however,  that 
nothing  can  be  done  to  cause  that  city  to  rival  Charleston  in 
commercial  advantages;  but  let  her  have  her  advantages. 
This  will  not  hinder  Charleston  from  becoming  the  chief 
Southern  commercial  outlet  to  the  Atlantic.  If  a  railroad 
from  Columbus  to  Macon  be  located  and  completed,  another 
can  be  made  from  Macon  to  Monticello,  a  distance  of  about 
35  miles.  This  would  give  an  option  to  merchants  and 
planters  to  send  the  produce  of  the  country  about  Columbus 
to  Savannah,  or  they  may  go  with  it  to  Augusta,  and  thence 
take  our   railroad  to    Charleston.     Let  what   may  happen, 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  33 

Augusta  must  become,  as  it  were,  the  commercial  entrepot 
of  the  interior;  and  she  will  find  the  superior  advantages, 
which  Charleston  will  always  afford,  for  her  commercial 
exertions. 

I  agree  with  you  in  all  the  views  you  have  taken  on  the 
subject  of  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  navigation  around 
the  Florida  Capes.  For  the  reasons  you  have  mentioned,  the 
commerce  with  New  Orleans  will,  as  a  matter  of  course,  be 
abandoned,  after  the  railroads  proposed  shall  be  completed.. 
The  extension  of  the  road  through  a  large  portion  of  Alabama, 
and  thence  to  Tennessee  River,  will  become  all  important  to 
Tennessee,  to  Alabama,  to  Georgia,  and  to  South  Carolina. 
A  very  large  portion  of  the  trade  must  then  pass  through 
those  States  from  the  interior  of  the  other  States,  and  all,  or 
nearly  all,  will  go  to  Augusta,  and  thence  to  Charleston  by 
our  railroad,  or  to  Savannah  by  the  river;  and  this  to  avoid 
going  to  New  Orleans,  whereby  very  eminent  risks  to  the 
transportation  of  the  produce  of  the  country  to  Europe,  and 
to  the  return  cargoes,  will  be  avoided. 

Taking  every  circumstance  into  consideration,  Augusta 
must  hold  a  very  important  station,  after  the  accomplishment 
of  these  great  designs,  of  those  great  public  works.  She  will 
be  to  the  Southern  and  Southwestern  States  what  Albany  is, 
and  will  always  be,  to  New  York.  Augusta  should,  there- 
fore, come  forward  boldly  in  the  aid  of  these  great  enter- 
prizes;  she  should  have  no  hesitation;  she  should  consider 
herself  deeply  interested  in  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  lend 
her  assistance  to  its  completion,  and  its  perpetuity,  and  also 
afford  every  aid  to  the  roads  to  be  made  in  Georgia  and 
Alabama;  and  by  so  doing,  she  must  become  a  very  great 
commercial  city. 

Should  the  road  through  Alabama  be  extended  to  Flor- 
ence, on  the  Tennessee  River,  that  branch  of  it  would  open 
a  communication  with  the  western  part  of  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky,  and  with  the  whole  "Western  and  Northwestern 
country,  and  it  would  connect  Augusta  with  thousands  of 
0 


34  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

miles    of    steamboat    navigation.      Alabama    may    not,  for  a 
time,  adopt  the  plan  of    these    railroads,  to    1he    full  extent, 
and  may    decline    for    a    time  the  arrangement  proposed;  in 
that  case  it  should  be  a  matter  of  consideration  with  Georgia 
to  construct    a    line    of    railroads    to    the    Tennessee   Kiver, 
nearest  the  northern   point  [of   her  territory,  say  near  Nicka- 
jack.      Tennessee  would  certainly  come  into  the  measure,  for 
it  would  be  one  of   the  means  of  giving  her   an    outlet  to  the 
Atlantic,  by    the    way    of    Augusta    to    Charleston,    and    to 
Savannah  by-  the  river. 
You  may  be  assured  that  Charleston  has   no  jealousy  as  to 
the  prosperity  of  Savannah;  she  is   a   Southern    city,  impor- 
tant to  a  large  portion    of   South    Carolina,  and   her  interest 
should  be  fostered;  and  whenever   these   contemplated   rail- 
roads shall  be  made  and  completed,  there   will  be   ample  and 
sufficient  commerce  for  all.      Speculations  respecting  railroads 
and  their  future   importance   may   be  carried  to  any  extent. 
With  regard   to   the   proposed  railroad  through    the    Saluda 
Gap  to  join  our  railroad,  such  a  work  will  be  of  high  impor- 
tance   to    South  Carolina,  at    any    rate;  and  more  especially 
should  the   Convention  now   in  session  at  Estillville,  in  Vir- 
ginia, determine  that  Charleston  should  be  the  great  outlet  to 
the  Atlantic,  for  the  Southern,  Western  and    Northwestern 
interior;  but  on  account  of  the  mountainous  country,  diffi- 
culties at  first  must  attend  its  construction. 

We  have  several  of  our  public  roads  already  established  in 
suitable  directions  to  meet  the  object,  and  steamboat  naviga- 
tion has  been  opened  for  a  considerable  distance-,  by  clear- 
ances in  the  Tennessee  and  French  Broad  Rivers.  A  steam- 
boat has  already  navigated  from  the  Muscle  Shoals  to  Kings- 
ton. Further  improvements  can  and  will  still  be  made,  and 
taking  the  course  from  Kingston,  of  the  Tennessee  and 
French  Broad  Rivers,  the  distance  by  water,  and  by  a  rail- 
road to  be  constructed  to  Saluda  Gap,  cannot  be  more  than 
one  hundred  miles,  part  of  the  route  from  thence  being  moun- 
tainous, the    country    must    be    explored    with  attention  and 


An  Address  hy  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  35 

skill,  before  a  location  or  any  commencement  of  a  railroad 
can  be  made;  and  should  it  be  located  to  pass  from  the  Gap, 
through  Pendleton,  Abbeville  and  Edgefield,  it  will  then 
meet  our  railroad  at  the  Horse  Pond,  within  sixteen  miles  of 
Augusta.  Branches  of  such  a  road  would  afterwards  be 
extended  to  Columbia,  and  to  other  parts  of  this  State. 

A  route  may  be  preferred  to  follow  the  valleys  of  rivers, 
say  from  the  head  of  the  French  Broad  to  the  Chatigua, 
thence  on  the  South  Carolina  side  of  the  Tugaloo  and 
Savannah  Rivers  to  Vienna,  and  thence  to  Edgefield,  and 
afterwards  to  meet  our  railroad.  By  such  a  location  much 
of  the  mountainous  country  may  be  avoided;  but  nothing 
can  be  finally  determined  until  the  country  shall  be  fully 
examined  and  explored.  It  may  be  found  that  the  best  loca- 
tion will  be  from  the  Saluda  Gap  to  Greenville,  Laurensviile, 
Newberry  and  Columbia,  and  from  this  last  place  to  Orange- 
burgh,  and  then  to  our  railroad. 

Should  the  valley  routes  be  preferred,  the  railroad  may 
run  from  Vienna  along  the  Savannah  River  to  Hamburgh  and 
Augusta.  Our  railroad  company  viewing  the  great  import- 
ance of  this  subject,  and  the  object  to  be  gained,  sent  a 
delegation  to  the  Convention  at  Estillville,  but  we  have  not 
as  yet  heard  from  our  delegates.  I  cannot  inform  you  at 
present  as  to  any  aid  which  South  Carolina  may  give  to  the 
railroads  to  be  made  in  Georgia.  The  public  is  always 
cautious  in  vesting  funds  in  new  objects,  and  our  Company 
has  found  difficulties  in  having  its  stock  subscribed  for. 

Our  aim  at  present  is  the  completion  of  our  road,  which  is 
now  successfully  progressing;  and  we  hope  to  complete  our 
work  before  the  end  of  the  next  year,  and  to  have  our  rail- 
road in  full  operation  in  January,  1833,  at  furthest.  Our 
success  will  inspire  the  public  confidence,  and  then  you  may 
expect  that  capital  will  be  vested  in  your  stock.  Little  of 
our  stock  has  been  in  market,  but  it  is  supposed  that  in  a 
few  months  it  will  rise  in  value.  No  shares  have  been 
forfeited.      We   have  not  as    yet  fixed  our  rates  of  freight; 


36  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

but  on  this  snbject  I   must   refer  you   to  the  charter  of    the 
Company. 

As  far  as  we  have  gone  we  have  found  our  work  perfectly 
sufficient  as  to  strength.  Its  durability  is  to  be  hereafter 
tested.  We  use  the  best  timber  to  be  procured,  and  then 
the  work  is  varnished.  Our  repairs,  if  practicable,  may 
hereafter  be  of  stone.  I  would  recommend  you  to  procure  your 
charter,  at  the  next  meeting  of  your  Legislature.  You  will 
have  it  granted  to  you,  no  doubt,  on  the  most  extensive  and 
liberal  terms.  1  approve  very  much  all  your  plans.  Your 
views  are  correct,  and  therefore  your  plans  must  succeed; 
but  I  think  you  had  best  extend  them  to  Savannah,  and  then 
you  will  have  your  whole  State  engaged  in  one  interest. 

As  regards  the  preference  you  speak  of,  I  can  only  say 
that  as  Charleston,  from  her  situation,  must,  to  a  very  great 
extent,  and  in  any  event,  be  the  natural  and  chief  outlet  to  the 
Atlantic,  our  Company  cannot  but  desire  the  completion  of 
a  railroad,  if  possible,  by  the  way  of  the  Saluda  Gap,  as  con- 
templated; but,  at  the  same  time,  we  see  also  the  great,  the 
immense  importance  of  the  line  of  road  from  Augusta, 
through  Georgia  and  Alabama  to  Florence,  or  to  the  Tennes- 
see; and  therefore  we  would  wish  for  the  success  of  both 
plans.  They  will  both  prove  their  public  utility  and  will 
promote  the  prosperity  of  our  Southern   country. 

I  write  you  this,  not  as  President  of  the  South  Carolina 
Canal  and  Railroad  Company,  but  as  an  individual  deeply 
interested  in  the  prosperity  of  our  country.  You  may  act  as 
you  think  proper  with  this  letter;  probably  the  views  of  both 
of  us  should  be  made  public,  and  they  may  elicit  the  best 
information  on  a  subject,  though  in  some  measure  new,  yet 
it  is  all  important  to  the  future  welfare  of  our  respective 
States. 

I  am  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ELIAS  HORRY. 


An  Address  by  Hon.  Elias  Horry,  1833.  37 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
on  the  4th  of  February,  1828,  reported  March  3rd  : 

Alexander  Black,  Joseph  Johnson,  William  Aiken,  Charles 
Edmondston,  Thomas  Bennett,  Simon  Magwoocl,  James 
Adger,  James  Ross,  J.  1ST.  Cardozo,  T.  Tupper. 


The  Civil  Engineers  employed  to  ascertain  the  situation  of 
the  lands,  and  the  levels,  through  which  the  line  of  location 
may  run,  from  Charleston  to  Hamburgh,  and  who  reported 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1828  : 

Messrs.  Charles  Parker  and  Robert  K.  Payne. 

First  Direction  of  the  Company,  elected  May  12th,  1828  : 

William  Aiken,  President. 

Directors — Alexander  Black,*  Thomas  Bennett,  Joseph 
Johnson,  John  Gadsden,  A.  S.  Willington,  E.  L.  Miller, 
T.  Tapper,  William  Bell,  Juhn  Robinson,  Thomas  Napier, 
Henry  F.  Faber,  James  Holmes. 


Secretaries — Edwin    P.    Starr,    Secretary,    who  resigned, 
and  John  T.  Robertson  was  elected  in  June,  1829. 


Exploring  Surveyors — Colonel  J.  B.  Pettival,  Mr.  C.  E. 
Detmold,  Mr.  R.  K.   Payne. 

The  United  States  Engineers  who  made  the  first  surveys 
for  location  . 

Dr.  William  Howard,  U.  S.  Civil  Engineer;  Messrs. 
Harrison,  Swift,  Guion,  Anderson,  and  Belin,  U.  S.  Assist- 
ant Civil  Engineers. 

The  maps  and  profiles  were  drawn  by  Messrs.  Harrison, 
Anderson  and  Belin. 

*  Afterwaids  Commissioner. 


Microfilmed 
SOLINET/ASERL  PROJECT 


38  Mayor  Smyth's  Annual  Review. 

Civil  Engineers  employed  by  the  Direction  after  the 
departure  of  the  United  States  Engineers  : 

Horatio  Allen,  Chief  Engineer.,  J.  B.  Petti val,  Explor- 
ing Engineer. 

Residents — C.  E.  Detmold,  E.  Watts,  P.  Martineau, 
W.  E.  Thompson,  James  Clarke,  C.  O.  Pascallis,  A.  A. 
Dexter. 

Commissioner — Alexander  Black,  who  lately  resigned, 
and  then  appointed  Director. 

Civil  Engineers  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Company  : 
Horatio  Allen,  Chief  Engineer.      James  Clarke,    on    the 
Western    Division;    Assistant,    J.    B.    Lithgow.      P.   Marti- 
neau, on  the  Eastern  Division;    Assistant,  J.  L.  Cole. 


Present  Board  of  Direction  : 

Elias  Horry,  President  of  the  Company. 

Directors  —  William  Aiken,  William  Bell,  Alexander 
Black,*  J.  J.  Bulow,  Dr.  S.  H.  Dickson,  John  Dixon,  H.  F. 
Faber,  John  Haslett,  B.  J.  Howland,  Dr.  Joseph  Johnson, 
Henry  Ravenel,  Tristram  Tupper. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer — John  T.  Robertson. 

*  Appointed  in  the  room  of  James  Adger,  who  had  resigned. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


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FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


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